PHILADELPHIA, PA – Sixty student-athletes in the NCAA Division I Football’s Championship Subdivision have been named to the 2020 College Sports Journal Preseason FCS All-America Team.
Unlike other All-America teams, the CSJ’s honor’s squad is designed to be like a real team, capable of taking the field and competing in a game possibly against a Top 5 Power Five School such as Clemson or Alabama. It includes everything from quarterbacks who can run or pass, to long snappers and other special teams performers. CSJ’s preseason all-America team also emphasizes players who have exhibited character and other team-oriented traits, not just lofty statistics, or talent.
Sixty players were selected as this is typically the travel roster for a travel team in the FCS.
Additionally, three players were selected as CSJ’s Preseason Players of the Year on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. These awards went to North Dakota State QB Trey Lance on Offense, James Madison S D’Angelo Amos on Defense, and Florida A&M P Chris Faddoul on Special Teams.
North Dakota State QB Trey Lance had the kind of storybook season in 2019 that Division I college football players can only dream about. Following in the championship footsteps of QB Easton Stick, Lance entered last season as the first NDSU freshman to start a season-opener at quarterback. Quickly, he showed that he was the real deal, guiding the Bison to an undefeated regular season, setting the NCAA all-divisions record for most passing attempts in a complete season (287) without an interception. Not only did he guide North Dakota State to a 16-0 record and an FCS National Championship, he also led the FCS with a 180.6 pass efficiency rating, ranked second in yards per pass attempt (9.71), fourth in points responsible for (252), fifth in completion percentage (66.9) and 10th in rushing yards per carry (6.51).
James Madison had a dominating team in 2019, and one of the main disruptive forces on defense and special teams for the Dukes was S D’Angelo Amos. Defensively, he had 57 total tackles (36 solo), to go with 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, three pass breakups and three blocked kicks. As a returner, had seven games with at least one 20-yard punt return and had 504 total return yards on the season. His dynamic play on both units makes him the perfect defensive player of the year.
P Chris Faddoul of Florida A&M was one of only a handful of truly dominating FCS punters in 2019. The Wesley Chapel, Florida native was second in the nation in yards per punt (46.0 yards per kick), with 16 punts of more than 50 yards and a long of 72 yards. Almost half of his punts (19/40) ended up inside the opponent’s 20 yard line, making him an exceptional weapon on special teams for the Rattlers.
Members of every FCS conference are represented in this year’s preseason FCS all-America team. The Missouri Valley Football Conference and Big Sky Conference lead the way with 9 members apiece, followed by the Colonial Athletic Association with 7 members.
The College Sports Journal is an independent, writer-driven media organization that has been previewing, covering and promoting FCS football for more than a decade.
COLLEGE SPORTS JOURNAL 2020 PRESEASON FCS ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Offensive Player of the Year: Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State, Soph.
Defensive Player of the Year: D’Angelo Amos, S, James Madison, Sr.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Chris Faddoul, P, Florida A&M, Sr.
See the full team below:
| Pos. | Player | School | Conference | Class | Ht. | Wt. |
| QB | Trey Lance | North Dakota State | Missouri Valley | Soph. | 6’3″ | 224 |
| QB | Daniel Smith | Villanova | Colonial Athletic | Sr. | 6’0″ | 205 |
| QB | Eric Barriere | Eastern Washington | Big Sky | Sr. | 6’0″ | 200 |
| RB | Karl Mofor | UAlbany | Colonial Athletic | Sr. | 5’8″ | 225 |
| RB | Alex Ramsey | The Citadel | SoCon | Gr. | 6’0” | 225 |
| RB | Jah-Maine Martin | North Carolina A&T | MEAC | R-Sr. | 5’10” | 214 |
| RB | Marcus Knight | Montana | Big Sky | Jr. | 6’1″ | 194 |
| WR | Xavier Smith | Florida A&M | MEAC | R-Sr. | 5’10 | 175 |
| WR | Deangelo Wilson | Austin Peay | Ohio Valley | Sr. | 5’8″ | 165 |
| WR | Samori Toure | Montana | Big Sky | R-Sr. | 6’3″ | 190 |
| WR | Cade Johnson | South Dakota State | Missouri Valley | Sr. | 5’10″ | 180 |
| WR | Jadakis Bonds | Hampton | Big South | Jr. | 6’4″ | 179 |
| WR | Pierre Williams | Sacramento State | Big Sky | Jr. | 6’1″ | 210 |
| WR | Isaiah Weston | Northern Iowa | Missouri Valley | R-Jr. | 6’4″ | 208 |
| WR | Changa Hodge | Villanova | Colonial Athletic | Sr. | 6’1″ | 200 |
| TE | Dalton Kincaid | San Diego | Pioneer | Jr. | 6’5″ | 230 |
| TE | Nate Adkins | East Tennessee State | SoCon | Sr. | 6’3″ | 226 |
| C | Colby Thomas | Sam Houston State | Southland | Sr. | 6’2″ | 295 |
| C | Evan Hecimovich | Dartmouth | Ivy | Sr. | 6’2″ | 265 |
| G | P.J. Burkhalter | Nicholls | Southland | R-Sr. | 6’3″ | 330 |
| G | Atondre Smith | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | SWAC | Sr. | 6’3″ | 320 |
| T | Dillon Radunz | North Dakota State | Missouri Valley | Sr. | 6’6″ | 301 |
| T | Liam Fornadel | James Madison | Colonial Athletic | Sr. | 6’4″ | 308 |
| OL | Connor Mignone | Central Connecticut State | NEC | Sr. | 6’4″ | 290 |
| OL | Brian Foley | Holy Cross | Patriot League | Sr. | 6’4″ | 314 |
| OL | Drew Himmleman | Illinois State | Missouri Valley | Sr. | 6’10″ | 315 |
| OL | Ty Whitworth | Weber State | Big Sky | Sr. | 6’4″ | 300 |
| DE | Elerson G. Smith | Northern Iowa | Missouri Valley | Sr. | 6’7″ | 245 |
| DE | Romeo McKnight | Illinois State | Missouri Valley | Sr. | 6’5″ | 260 |
| DE | Jevon Leon | Sam Houston State | Southland | So. | 6’3″ | 250 |
| DT | Josephus Smith | Austin Peay | Ohio Valley | R-Sr. | 5’9″ | 285 |
| DT | Roderick Perry | South Carolina State | MEAC | R-Sr. | 6’2″ | 300 |
| DT | Jared Schiess | Weber State | Big Sky | Jr. | 6’3″ | 300 |
| DL | Vaughn Taylor, Jr. | Morehead State | Pioneer | Sr. | 6’3″ | 248 |
| DL | Malik Hamm | Lafayette | Patriot League | Jr. | 6’3″ | 260 |
| DL | Michael Mason | Wofford | SoCon | Soph. | 6’3″ | 230 |
| OLB | Bryson Armstrong | Kennesaw State | Big South | Sr. | 5’11” | 212 |
| OLB | Ryan Greenhagen | Fordham | Patriot League | Jr. | 6’1″ | 235 |
| OLB | Jeremiah Tyler | Princeton | Ivy | Jr. | 6’2″ | 225 |
| ILB | Keonte Hampton | Jackson State | SWAC | Jr. | 6’2” | 225 |
| ILB | Jace Lewis | Montana | Big Sky | R-Sr. | 6’1″ | 230 |
| ILB | Willie Eubanks III | The Citadel | SoCon | Sr. | 6’2” | 230 |
| LB | Tyler Dressler | Richmond | Colonial Athletic | Sr. | 6’3″ | 244 |
| LB | Anthony Koclanakis | Murray State | Ohio Valley | R-Sr. | 6’1″ | 226 |
| LB | John Staton | Samford | SoCon | Sr. | 6’1″ | 215 |
| CB | Devin Taylor | Illinois State | Missouri Valley | Sr. | 6’1″ | 200 |
| CB | Robert Rochell | Central Arkansas | Southland | Sr. | 6’2″ | 176 |
| CB | Dexter Lawson, Jr. | Central Connecticut State | NEC | Jr. | 5’10″ | 180 |
| S | Brandon Easterling | Dayton | Pioneer | Sr. | 6″0″ | 203 |
| S | Qwynnterrio Cole | Alcorn State | SWAC | Sr. | 6’3” | 190 |
| S | D’Angelo Amos | James Madison | Colonial Athletic | R-Sr. | 6’1” | 184 |
| DB | Kordell Jackson | Austin Peay | Ohio Valley | Sr. | 5’11″ | 163 |
| DB | Marquese Bell | Florida A&M | MEAC | R-Jr. | 6’3″ | 215 |
| DB | Michael Tutsie | North Dakota State | Missouri Valley | Jr. | 5’10” | 197 |
| P | Chris Faddoul | Florida A&M | MEAC | Sr. | 5’11″ | 210 |
| PK | Luis Aguiar | Northern Arizona | Big Sky | Sr. | 6’3″ | 200 |
| PK | Ethan Ratke | James Madison | Colonial Athletic | R-Sr. | 5’10″ | 185 |
| KR | Lonnie Moore IV | Monmouth | Big South | Sr. | 5’10” | 180 |
| PR | Mike Roussos | Columbia | Ivy | Sr. | 6’0″ | 195 |
| LS | Justin Hathoot | Northern Arizona | Big Sky | Sr. | 6’2″ | 195 |
Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.
Reach him at: this email or click below:
